Electrical terminal block assembly



Sept. 17, 1963 e. USTIN Re. 25,446

ELECTRICAL TERMINAL BLOCK ASSEMBLY Original Filed Feb. 24, 1958 5Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR GEORGE USTIN W ATTORNEY Sept. 17, 1963 G. USTlNRe. 25,446

ELECTRICAL TERMINAL BLOCK ASSEMBLY Original Filed Feb. 24, 1958 3Sheets-Sheet 2 III I III II III/I) INVENTOR GEORGE USTIN Sept. 17, 1963G. us'rm Re. 25,446

ELECTRICAL TERMINAL BLOCK ASSEMBLY Original Filed Feb. 24, 1958 3Sheets-Sheet 3 INVE NTOR GEORGE USTIN 4 AT ORNEY United States Patentfiice Re. 25,445 Reiesned Sept. 17, 1963 25,446 ELECTRICAL TERMINALBLOCK ASSEMBLY George Ustin, Verona, N..l., assignor to BuchananElectrical Products Corporation, Hillside, N.J., a corporation of NewJersey Original No. 2,981,923, dated Apr. 25, 1961, Ser. No. 717,065,Feb. 24, 1958. Application for reissue Apr. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 190,196

10 Claims. (Cl. 339-198) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets [1 appears inthe original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification;matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates generally to electric terminal block structureand more specifically to a terminal block assembly comprising two ormore sections of insulating material for accommodating as many circuitsas desired, and to the sections themselves.

A previously known terminal block assembly comprises at least one bodysection having first and second ends having complementaryconfigurations, a first end section having an end having the firstconfiguration and a second end section having an end having the secondconfiguration. In this known assembly the sections are held together byself-sustaining press fit of the complementary configurations, the endsections are apertured to accommodate screws for mounting the assemblyto a panel or the like, and the tops of the end sections have slotswhich face each other when the sections are assembled, the slots beingadapted to receive the ends of a terminal marking strip.

A terminal block assembly embodying the present invention comprises onlytwo types of sections instead of three, there being only an end sectionand at least one body section. Each section is apertured to accommodatea mounting screw, and additional body sections which are interchangeablewith the body section can be added to an existing terminal blockassembly embodying the invention without removing any mounting screw ordisassembling any existing sections.

Improved means is also provided for mounting a terminal marking stripalong the top of the terminal block assembly.

Important objects of the invention are to provide terminal blockstructure having the above advantages.

The above and further objects and advantages will appear from thefollowing description of an example of the invention and theaccompanying drawings thereof in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a terminal block assembly embodying theinvention with certain parts omitted for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the terminal block assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded enlarged side elevation substantially of theassembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 but showing fewer sections;

FIG. 4 is a plan view substantially of what is shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view on line 5-5 of FIG. 1 and alsoshowing a panel to which the terminal block assembly is mounted;

FIG. 6 is a View on line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a view on line 7-7 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a view on line 8-8 of FIG. 3 and showing also an additionalpart which is not illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a view on line 9-9 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a view on line 10-10 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view on line 11-11 of FIG. 5.

The drawings show a terminal block assembly 12 having first and secondends 14 and 16, respectively, and comprising an end section 18 ofinsulating material providing end 14 and a plurality (seven as shown) ofinterchangeable and as shown identical additional sections 20' ofinsulating material, one of which, namely, the one most remote fromsection 18, providing end 16.

If desired, terminal block assembly 12 could include only one section20, in addition to section 18.

Section 18 has a first end 22 facing away from end 16 and a second end24 facing away from end 14. End 22 of section 18 has an aperture 26, asbest shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6, for receiving a fastening devicesuch as a screw 28 for securing section 18 to other structure, such as apanel 30 (FIG. 5).

End 24 of section 18 has a plane surface 32 facing away from end 14.

Each section 20 has a first end 34 facing away from end 16, a second end36 facing away from end 14 and an upper surface 38 between ends 34 and36.

End 34 of each section 29 has a contact-supporting projection 35extending away from end 36 and having an upwardly facing surface portion37 for supporting a Contact and an upwardly facing surface portion 39extending outwardly beyond surface portion 37. Projection 35 of eachsection 20 also has a slot opening downwardly and utwardly away from end36 and having a plane surface or ceiling 40 including a central recessedportion 42 in open communication with the edge of ceiling 40 remote fromend 36.

End 36 of each section 29 has a plane surface or floor 44 facing in thedirection opposite that faced by and substantially coplanar with ceiling40' of the same section 20, and a plane surface or wall 45 facing awayfrom end 34 and perpendicular to and intersecting floor 44.

End 36 of each section 20 also includes an aperture 46 for receiving afastening device such as another screw 28 for securing that section 20to other structure such as panel 30 (FIG. 5). One end of aperture 46 isrecessed as indicated at 4-8, and the recessed end of each aperture 46is in open communication with floor 44 of its section 20. Aperture 46 isalso, as shown, in open communication with wall 45.

End 36 of each section 20 also has a plane surface 50 facing away fromend 14 and intersecting upper surface 38 of its section 2i). Eachsurface 50 includes a cylindrical hole 52 having an open end facing awayfrom end 14 and near upper surface 38 of its section 29.

Between floor 44 and surface 50, end 36 of each section 20 is providedwith a transverse recess 53 having an upper wall 55 confronting floor 44and aligned with surface portion 39.

End 36 of each section 20 also includes a pair of oppositely facingplane surfaces 54 intersecting floor 44 and parallel to the axis of hole52 of the same section 20 and with floor 44 providing a projectionforming a mounting member 57. Aperture 46 is located between surfaces54.

End 34 of each section 20 has a cylindrical projection 56 coaxial withhole 52 of the same section 20. Projection 56 may be and as shown isprovided with longitudinal serrations.

End 34 of each section 20 also includes a pair of confronting planesurfaces 58 intersecting ceiling 40 of the same section 20 andsubstantially coplanar with surfaces 54 of the same section 20. Asshown, surfaces 58- are provided with serrations parallel to ceiling 40of the same section 20. Recessed portion 42 is located between theplanes of surfaces 58.

The edges of surfaces 58 closest to end 36 are joined by a wall 57having a central recessed portion 59 facing away from end 36 and forminga continuation of recessed portion 42.

Each section 20 also has additional portions or projections 60overlapping its upper surface 38 to form therewith a longitudinaldovetail groove.

End 24 of section 18 is in general similar to end 36 of each section 20,having a cylindrical hole 62 having an open end at surface 32 facingaway from end 14, a floor 64 similar to floors 44 and a pair ofoppositely facing parallel plane surfaces 66 similar to and spaced apartthe same distance as each pair of surfaces 54. However, end 24 ofsection 18 has no aperture corresponding to apertures 46.

One of sections 2t) is assembled with section 18 with end 34 of theformer confronting end 24 of the latter. Thus, projection 56 of thatsection 20 is in hole 62, surfaces 66 are within surfaces 58 of thatsection 20, and with ceiling 40 of that section 20 overlapping andconfronting and substantially coplanar with floor 64. The relativedimensions of projection 56 of that section 20 and hole 62 may be suchthat that projection 56 engage hole 62 in a press or interference fit,and the relative spacing of surfaces 66 from each other and of surfaces58 of that section 20 from each other may be such that surfaces 66engage surfaces 58 of that section 20 in a press or interference fit. Ifthe press fits exist, they serve positively to hold section 18 and thatsection 20 together. In any event, whether or not the press fits exist,the interengagements of projection 56 of that section 20 and hole 62 andof surfaces 66 and surfaces 58 of that section 20 serve to locate thesections in question with respect to each other.

A terminal block assembly comprising section 18 and one section 20, thatis, the two leftmost sections of FIG. 5, would be a one-circuitassembly. Each of these two sections is illustrated in FIG. with a screw28 (in the appropriate mounting aperture) securing its section to panel30, thus to secure the one-circuit assembly to panel 30. The head of thescrew 28 which secures section 21 of the one-circuit assembly to panel30 is mainly in recessed end 48 of aperture 46, but extends therefrom,overlapping both floor 44 and, as shown, wall 45.

An additional section 20 may be added to the onecircuit assemblydescribed above, simply by assembling the additional section 20 with thesection 20 of the onecircuit assembly in the same manner in which thesection 20 of the one-circuit assembly was previously assembled withsection 18, that is, with projection 56 of the additional section 20 inhole 52 of the section 20 of the one-circuit assembly, with surfaces 54of the section 20 of thc one-circuit assembly within surfaces 58 ofadditional section 20, and with ceiling 40 of additional section 20confronting and substantially coplanar with floor 44 of the section 20of the one-circuit assembly and covering recessed end 48 of aperture 46.

It is noteworthy that during the assembly of additional section 20 tothe previously-existing one-circuit assembly that part of the head ofscrew 28 of the section 20 of the one-circuit assembly which projectsbeyond floor 44 and wall 45 enters recessed portions 42 and 59, whichthus provide a clearance space for the screw head. This fact makes itpossible to add a further section 20 to an already-in-place section 20,even if the latter has assembled therewith a mounting screw 28.

Thus, too, that section 20 which is most remote from section 18 providesend 16 of terminal block assembly 12, and assembly 12 has a plane topsurface provided by upper surface(s) 38 of section(s) 20.

Surface 32 of section 18 is dimensioned so as to overlap one end of thetop surface of assembly 12, for a purpose which will now be brought out.Where desired, a terminal marking strip 68 can be mounted on the topsurface of assembly 12. If used, strip 68 is confined lengthwise betweenthat portion of surface 32 which overlaps the top surface of assembly 12and the head of a screw 70 the shank of which engages hole 52 of thatsection 20 which provides end 16 of assembly 12. More precisely, thehead of screw 70 has a surface which faces end 14 of assembly 12, andstrip 68 is confined between surface 32 and this last-mentioned surface.Strip 68 is trapezoidal in transverse section and is confined againstthe top surface of assembly 12 by projections 60. The trapezoidal formof strip 68 conforms to the dovetail recess(cs) defined by projections60.

To install strip 68 it is merely necessary to slide strip 68 into placelengthwise from end 16 of assembly 12 and to install screw 70 in hole 52(which would but for strip 68 be unused) of that section 20 whichprovides end 16. Preferably, and as shown, screw 70 is self-tapping.

If it should be desired to add a section 20 to a previously-existingterminal block assembly including strip 68, it is first necessary merelyto remove screw 70.

Each section 20 also includes a projection 72 at the end 34 thereof,projection 72 being adapted to receive and hold in a press-fitself-sustaining relationship an electric contact such as that shown at74. Projection 72 can also be used with other types of electriccontacts, all in known fashion.

Briefly, as shown, contact 74 is plate-like and has a notch (FIG. 9)which straddles and engages projection 72, and a pair of tapped holes.FIG. 8 shows contact 74 to which wires 76 are secured by screws 78 whichengage the tapped holes. Provision in the form of recesses 80 is alsomade for accommodating the shanks of screws 78.

The invention is well adapted to the attainment of the enumeratedadvantages and others.

Many changes in the details of the disclosed example can be made withoutdeparting from the invention. Accordingly those details are not to betaken as limitations upon the invention except as those details may beincluded in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A terminal block assembly having first and second ends and comprisinga first section of insulating material providing said first end, atleast one additional section of insulating material including a secondsection providing said second end, each said section having a surfacefacing away from said first end and a hole in each said surface havingan open end facing away from said first end, said holes aligned witheach other, each said additional section having a projection facing saidfirst end and engaging said hole of another of said sections, one ofsaid projections engaging said hole of each of said sections except saidsecond section, said assembly having a top surface, said surface of saidfirst section overlapping an end of said top surface, a member having ashank in said hole of said second section and a surface facing away fromsaid second end and overlapping the other end of said top surface, and aterminal marking strip on said top surface between said surface of saidfirst section and said surface of said member and confined thereby.

2. A terminal block assembly having first and second ends and comprisinga first section of insulating material providing said first end, atleast one additional section of insulating material including a secondsection providing said second end, each said section having a surfacefacing away from said first end and a cylindrical hole in each saidsurface having an open end facing away from said first end, each saidadditional section having a cylindrical projection facing said first endand engaging said hole of another of said sections, one of saidprojections engaging said hole of each of said sections except said holeof said second section, said assembly having a top surface, said surfaceof said first section overlapping an end of said top surface, a screwhaving a shank in said hole of said second section and a head having asurface facing said first end and overlapping the other end of said topsurface, and a terminal marking strip on said top surface between saidsurface of said first section and said surface of said screw andconfined thereby.

3. A terminal block assembly having first and second ends and comprisinga first section of insulating material providing said first end, aplurality of interchangeable additional sections of insulating materialincluding a second section providing said second end, each said sectionhaving a surface facing away from said first end and a cylindrical holein each said surface having an open end facing away from said first end,said holes aligned with each other, each said additional section havinga cylindrical projection facing said first end and engaging said hole ofanother of said sections, one of said projections engaging said hole ofeach of said sections except said hole of said second section, each saidadditional section having an upper surface, said upper surfaces togetherproviding a top surface of said block, said surface of said firstsection overlapping an end of said top surface, a screw having a shankin said hole of said second section and a head having a surface facingsaid first end and overlapping the other end of said top surface, and aterminal marking strip on said top surface between said surface of saidfirst section and said surface of said screw and confined thereby.

4. A terminal block assembly having first and second ends and comprisinga first section of insulating material providing said first end, aplurality of interchangeable additional sections of insulating materialincluding a second section providing said second end, each said sectionhaving a surface facing away from said first end and a cylindrical holein each said surface having an open end facing away from said first end,said holes aligned with each other, each said additional section havinga cylindrical projection facing said first end and engaging said hole ofanother of said sections, one of said projections engaging said hole ofeach of said sections except said second section, each said additionalsection having an upper surface, a portion of each said additionalsection overlapping its said upper surface, said upper surfaces togetherproviding a top surface of said block, said surface of said firstsection overlapping an end of said top surface, a screw having a shankin said hole of said second section and a head having a surface facingsaid first end and overlapping the other end of said top surface, and aterminal marking strip held against said top surface by said overlappingportions between said surface of said first section and said surface ofsaid screw and confined thereby.

5. A terminal block assembly comprising a first section of insulatingmaterial having first and second ends, said first end having a ceilinghaving first and second coplanar portions and a central portion betweenand joining and recessed with respect to said coplanar portions and inopen communication with the edge of said ceiling remote from said secondend, said first end further having a wall facing away from said secondend and intersecting said ceiling at the edge thereof adjacent saidsecond end, said wall having first and second coplanar portions and acentral portion between and joining and recessed with respect to saidfirst and second coplanar portions of said wall, said second end havinga floor facing in the direction opposite that faced by said ceiling,said coplanar portions of said ceiling and said floor substantiallycoplanar, said second end further having a wall facing away from saidfirst end and intersecting said floor at the edge thereof remote fromsaid first end, and said second end further having an aperture forreceiving a fastening device having a head for securing said firstsection to other structure, said aperture having a recessed end in opencommunication with said wall of said second end and said floor, and asecond section having first and second ends identical in shape and sizeto said first and second ends of said first section, respectively, saidfirst end of said second section confronting said second end of saidfirst section, the ceiling of said second section overlapping andconfronting and covering said floor of said first section, the coplanarportions of the ceiling of said second section substantially coplanarwith said floor ill of said first section and said wall of said secondend of said first section confronting and substantially coplanar withthe coplanar portions of the wall of said first end of said secondsection, the central portion of the ceiling of said second section andthe central portion of the wall of said second section confronting therecess of said recessed end of said aperture of said first section toprovide a clearance space for said head of said fastening device.

6. A first terminal block section of insulating material having firstand second ends, said first end having a ceiling having first and secondcoplanar portions and a central portion between and joining and recessedwith respect to said coplanar portions and in open communication withthe edge of said ceiling remote from said second end, said first endfurther having a wall facing away from said second end and intersectingsaid ceiling at the edge thereof adjacent said second end, said wallhaving first and second coplanar portions and a central portion betweenand joining and recessed with respect to said first and second coplanarportions. of said wall, said second end having a floor facing in thedirection opposite that faced by said ceiling, said coplanar portions ofsaid ceiling and said floor substantially coplanar, said second endfurther having a wall facing away from said first end and intersectingsaid floor at the edge thereof remote from said first end, and saidsecond end further having an aperture for receiving a fastening devicehaving a head for securing said first section to other structure, saidaperture having a recessed end in open communication with said wall ofsaid second end and said floor, said first section adapted for assemblywith an additional section of insulating material having a first endidentical in shape and dimensions to said first end of said firstsection and a second end identical in shape and dimensions to saidsecond end of said first section, with the first end of said additionalsection confronting said second end of said first section, with theceiling of said additional section overlapping and confronting andcovering said floor of said first section, with the coplanar portions ofthe ceiling of said additional section substantially coplanar with saidfloor of said first section and said wall of said second end of saidfirst section confronting and substantially coplanar with the coplanarportions of the wall of said first end of said additional section andwith the central portion of the ceiling of said additional section andthe central portion of the wall of said additional section confrontingthe recess of said recessed end of said aperture of said first sectionto provide a clearance space for said head of said device.

7. A terminal block assembly comprising a plurality of separableinterlocked sections of insulating material each of said sections havingfirst and second ends, the first end of each section having acontact-supporting projeclion providing an upwardly facing shelf and aslot beneath said shelf opening downwardly and outwardly away from thesecond end, said slot having a ceiling, said slot terminating inwardlyof the side edges of the section to form projections depending from theouter ends of said celing and closing the ends of said slot, the secondend of each section having (I mounting member extending away from (hefirst and and having rm upper surface coplanar with the ceiling of saidslot and being of the same transverse width as said slot to interlockwith the ceiling of the slot in the first end of an adjacent section andto form an interference fir with the depending projections at the ends 0the slot in said first end of said adjacent section.

8. A terminal block assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein the secondend of each section is also provided with a transverse slot of which theupper surface of the mounting member at that end forms the bottom walland the upper wall of said last mentioned slot is coplanar with theupwardly facing shelf of the projection of the first end of each sectionwhereby said projection interlocks with the upper and lower walls ofsaid transverse slot in the second end of an adjacent section.

9. A terminal block assembly comprising first and second separable,interlocked sections of insulating material, each of said sectionshaving first and second ends, the first end of each section having acontact-supporting projection extending away from the second end of itssection, said projection having an upwardly facing surface portion forsupporting a contact and an upwardly facing surface portion extendingoutwardly beyond said contact-supporting surface portion, saidprojection having a slot opening downwardly and outwardly away from thesecond end, said slot having a ceiling terminating inwardly of the sideedges of the section to form depending projections at the opposite endsof said ceiling and substantially closing the ends of said slot, thesecond end of each section having a projection forming a mounting memberextending away from the first end and being of the same transverse widthas said slot, so that said mounting member of said first section formsan interference fit with the depending projections at the opposite endsof the slot in the first end of said second section, the second entd ofeach section being also provided with a transverse recess of which theupper wall is aligned with the upwardly facing surface portion of theprojection of the first end that extends outwardly beyond thecontactsupporting surface portion whereby upon insertion of the mountingmember of the second end of said first section into the slot of thefirst end of said second section the projection of the first end of saidsecond section interlocks with the recess of the second end of the firstsection and the upper wall of the transverse recess of the second end ofthe first section and the outwardly extending surface portion of theprojection of the first end of the second section align said sectionsvertically.

10. A terminal block assembly having first and second ends andcomprising a plurality of sections of only two types, including a firstsection of a first type having said first end, at least one secondsection of a second type having said second end and means for supportinga terminal, said first section having a mounting projection at saidfirst end and an interfitting projection at its other end, said secondsection having an interfitting and mounting projection at said secondend and a recess at its other end to accommodate an interfittingprojection, each said section having an integral barrier providing asurface facing away from said first end and a hole in said surface ofsaid second section, said hole having an open end facing away from saidfirst end, said assembly having a top surface, said surface of saidfirst section overlapping an end of said top surface, a member having aportion in said hole of said second section and a surface facing saidsecond end and overlapping the other end of said top surface, and aterminal marking strip on said top surface between said surface of saidfirst section and said surface of said member and confined thereby, eachsaid section being of insulating material.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patentUNITED STATES PATENTS 1,579,400 Samuels Apr. 6, 1926 2,306,389 JorgensenDec. 29, 1942 2,397,102 Graham Mar. 26, 1946 2,743,373 D-e Smidt Apr.24, 1956 2,848,703 Foote et a1 Aug. 19, 1958 2,928,066 Gordon Mar. 8,1960 2,981,922 Van Valkenburg et a1, Apr. 25, 1961 3,019,408 Ustin -aJan. 30, 1962 FOREiGN PATENTS 583,598 Great Britain Dec. 20, 1946 OTHERREFERENCES Schlegei (German), Application Serial No. Sch. 3550 VIII,printed July 26, 1956, K1. 21c 27.02.

Buchanan: Electronic Design, March 1955, page 80.

